December 2024 - Page 8 of 21

Dec202024 by News DeskNo Comments

IT Department targets ‘Kashmir Group’ in multi-crore Dubai investment case

REGIONAL

The Income Tax Department conducted raids on the KCI Emporium Group, a prominent business entity in Kashmir, as part of a broader investigation into illegal financial activities linked to Dubai property investments. The operation, carried out on Wednesday, simultaneously targeted premises in Srinagar, Mumbai, and Delhi. Preliminary findings revealed that certain individuals from Kashmir had been involved in hawala cash transactions to fund investments in Dubai-based properties. Among the evidence seized were records indicating property deals within the Kashmir Valley amounting to over Rs 50 crores, with a significant portion involving large cash components. Additionally, more than Rs 1 crore in cash was confiscated during the searches. The raids uncovered a larger nexus connect...

Dec202024 by News DeskNo Comments

Government bans 156 fixed-dose combination medicines over safety concerns

REGIONAL

The Government of India has banned 156 fixed-dose combination (FDC) medicines, including widely used antibiotics, painkillers, and multivitamins, citing safety and efficacy concerns. The ban, which took effect in August 2024, aims to protect public health from potentially harmful drug combinations lacking therapeutic justification. In response to a Lok Sabha query, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers confirmed that the ban was implemented under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. This law enables authorities to regulate or prohibit the manufacture and sale of drugs deemed risky for human or animal health. An expert committee led by Professor C.K. Kokate reviewed the safety and effectiveness of these FDCs, identifying many as irrational or unlicensed, prompting the p...

Dec202024 by News DeskNo Comments

FIR lodged against Muslim MP in Uttar Pradesh for alleged power theft, threatening officials

INDIA

Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Zia-ur-Rehman Barq faces legal trouble as an FIR has been registered against him at Nakhasa police station for allegedly threatening officials from the Uttar Pradesh Power Department during an inspection. The complaint, lodged by Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Santosh Tripathi, cites Sections 352, 351(2), and 132 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Earlier, the police booked Barq for alleged electricity theft at his residence in the Deepa Sarai neighborhood. The incident reportedly occurred during a routine inspection at around 7:30 a.m. when a power department team visited the MP's house. Superintendent of Police (SP) Krishna Kumar stated that during the inspection, Barq confronted the officials, using abusive language and threatening them. According to th...

Dec202024 by News DeskNo Comments

Kashmir faces 78% rainfall deficit since October

REGIONAL

Jammu Kashmir is grappling with a significant rainfall deficit of 78% over the past two and a half months, with no major weather activity expected until the end of December. South Kashmir’s Shopian district tops the list with a staggering 96% deficiency recorded between October 1 and December 18, 2024. The persistent dry spell has exacerbated the deficit, coinciding with a cold wave gripping the region. Data reveals a 75% shortfall in precipitation across Jammu and Kashmir from October 1 to December 19, with only 21mm of rainfall recorded against the normal 97.1mm. After Shopian, Poonch reported a 95% deficit, followed by Kulgam and Budgam at 94% and 90%, respectively. Srinagar recorded an 87% deficit, while Samba stood out as the sole location with above-normal precipitation, ...

Dec202024 by News DeskNo Comments

Srinagar freezes at minus 6.2°C, Anantnag nears -10°C as cold intensifies across Kashmir

REGIONAL

Kashmir Valley experienced its coldest night of the season on Friday, with Shopian recording a frigid -10.0°C, making it the coldest place in the region. Anantnag followed closely with a minimum temperature of -9.9°C, while Pulwama registered -9.5°C. The intense cold wave gripped the valley, with Pahalgam and Sonamarg recording -8.2°C and -9.0°C, respectively. Srinagar, the summer capital, recorded a bone-chilling -6.2°C, while Kupwara and Budgam saw lows of -6.5°C and -7.6°C, respectively. Kokernag recorded -5.8°C, and Khudwani saw a low of -8.5°C. The Jammu region experienced a milder chill. Jammu city recorded a minimum temperature of 6.9°C, while Banihal was among the colder areas at -3.8°C. Udhampur and Samba saw lows of 1.4°C and 2.1°C, respectively, with Bhaderwah recording...

Dec192024 by News DeskNo Comments

‘Attempt to crush Kashmir’s artistic genius’: PDP opposes proposed GST hike on Kashmiri shawls

CULTURE

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senior leader and former minister Naeem Akhtar has strongly opposed the proposed hike in Goods and Services Tax (GST) on Kashmiri shawls from 12% to 28%. Akhtar warned that such a move would devastate Kashmir’s fragile economy and push thousands of artisans into financial distress. In a statement, Akhtar called the tax increase a "severe blow" to an already struggling sector. "This is an attempt to crush the artistic genius of Kashmir under the weight of excessive taxation," he said. He emphasized the historic significance of shawl making in the region, a craft meticulously preserved over centuries despite challenging circumstances. "Kashmiri shawl weavers, with their delicate fingers, create masterpieces admired globally. This proposed taxation i...

Dec192024 by News DeskNo Comments

Teacher dies of cardiac arrest amid encounter in Kulgam

REGIONAL

Danishwar Hameed A 50-year-old man from Kulgam district in south Kashmir died on cardiac arrest on Thursday. Locals told The Kashmiriyat that early on Thursday morning as the sound of gunfire and blasts raged in the Kader area, Bashir Ahmed Malla suffered a cardiac arrest. "Bashir, a mathematics teachers by profession had gone out to the washroom at 3:39 A.M. when bullet sounds suddenly rang in the area and fell down unconscious," a local said. He said that when Bashir was found by his family members, he had passed away. "Bashir's death has brought everyone to tears. He was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard in Kader, Kulgam," he told The Kashmiriyat. An official confirming the death to The Kashmiriyat said that the cause of his death is being investigated.

Dec192024 by News DeskNo Comments

‘Mian Quyoom got him killed through militants’: SIA files chargesheet in Babar Qadri murder case

REGIONAL

SIA Kashmir on Thursday filed a supplementary charge sheet against senior lawyer and former president High Court Bar Association Kashmir Mian Abdul Qayoom in Babar Qadri murder case. Babar Qadri was allegedly killed by militants at his residence, in Hawal area of Srinagar in September 2020. In a statement, SIA said that a case FIR No.62/2020 U/S 302 IPC 7/27 I A Act 13/16/18/20/39 UAPA was registered and investigation was taken up by an SIT framed by IGP Kashmir to be headed by SP Hazratbal. “The SIT conducted the investigation and presented the chargesheet against six accused persons on 06.05.2021 before the Special NIA Court, Srinagar. Thereafter, further investigation in the case U/S 173 (8) CrPC was started by SDPO Zadibal. However, on 20.07.2023, PHQ J&K transfe...

Dec192024 by News DeskNo Comments

Muslim representation in higher education declines to 4.87%: AISHE report

EDUCATION

India recorded a total of 43,268,181 students enrolled in higher education during 2021-22, with 2,108,033 Muslim students making up only 4.87% of the total enrolment. This marks a decline from the previous years when the enrolment stood at 5.24% in 2019 and 5.5% in 2020, before falling to 4.6% in 2021. The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) across the country averages at 24.1, reflecting moderate access to higher education. Jammu Kashmir, now a Union Territory, stands out for its higher participation rates in higher education, likely due to its Muslim-majority population. Out of 400,423 total students, 138,142 are Muslims, constituting 34.5% of the total enrolment. This reflects the region's significant Muslim representation in higher education institutions. With a GER of 24.8, the region showc...

Dec192024 by News DeskNo Comments

Burglary case solved within 24 hours in Srinagar, Stolen property recovered

REGIONAL

Srinagar Police has solved a burglary case within 24 hours and recovered stolen property. In a press release, Police said that in December 17, 2024, taking cognizance of a written complaint by an individual namely Naseer Ah Bhat son of Ghulam Ahmad Bhat resident of Deviahangan Hawal that unknown thieves had broken into his house and stolen various items, including cash. "PS Nowhatta registered case FIR No. 57/2024 under relevant sections of law and constituted a Special Investigation Team headed by SHO PS Nowhatta to carry out thorough investigation of the matter," the statement read. With swift and strenuous efforts and assistance of human and technical intelligence, the accused persons namely Mohd Shamim Boya son of Mohd Mamoom Boya resident of Ganga Rampur District Ulbarya Kalk...